Transmission and scanning electron microscopic study peripheral blood immunoblasts of a splenectomized patient.

A 32-year-old patient, known to suffer from paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria, developed a marked immunoblastic reaction in the peripheral blood and bone marrow following pneumonia and pericarditis, most probably of viral origin. Transmission electron microscopic examination showed cells with irregular nucleus, scarce heterochromatin and well-developed Golgi formation. The surface ultrastructure examined with a scanning electron microscope was characterized by the presence of ridges, ruffles and blebs on the cell membrane.

Ultrastructural characteristics of the plasma cells of a patient with nonsecretory myeloma and plasma cell leukemia.

The clinical features and the ultrastructural findings of the bone marrow and peripheral blood plasma cells of a patient with nonsecretory myeloma and acute plasma cell leukemia are described. The internal ultrastructure of the cells was characterized by invaginated nuclei, cytoplasmic filaments and scanty endoplasmic reticulum. Scanning electron microscopy examination revealed the presence of numerous membranal buddings giving the cells a grape-like appearance.

Extensive pharyngeal hemorrhage induced by dipyridamole.

An extensive hemorrhage in the pharynx appeared in association with dipyridamole administration to a diabetic patient. The hemorrhage caused dysphagia and subsided when the drug was discontinued. Coagulation tests were normal except for a decreased platelet aggregation.

Platelet functions before, during and after labor.

Platelet functions were evaluated in 20 healthy pregnant women in the last months of pregnancy, during labor, and 5-12 weeks after labor. The results showed an increased platelet count, bleeding time and nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) test, as well as an increased plasma calcium level postlabor. ADP- and epinephrine-induced aggregation during labor was markedly decreased, followed by a statistically significant increase postlabor.

Effect of physical effort on the white blood cells in benign familial leukopenia.

The components of the peripheral white blood cells (WBC) were determined before and after 10 min of submaximal ergometric work in two groups of subjects: 34 healthy Yemenite Jews with benign familial leukopenia (BFL) and 34 healthy Yemenite Jews without BFL. The mean +/- SEM of the increase in the peripheral WBC following the effort in the control group was 2,606 +/- 1,272 cells/mm3, due to the relative rise in the neutrophils, eosinophils, monocytes and lymphocytes. The identical ergometric work, performed by BFL subjects, brought about significantly lower increase (700 +/- 865 cells/mm3) in the peripheral WBC, the majority of which were lymphocytes.

The metabolism of adenosine and distribution of adenosine receptor lymphocytes in two human circulating T cell subsets.

Human circulating E rosette forming cells (ERFC), rerosetted with sheep erythrocytes in the presence of adenosine, yielded two T-lymphocyte subpopulations: a major fraction forming E-rosettes (E resistant = ER) and a minor non-rosetting fraction (E sensitive - ES). Both T cell subpopulations converted adenosine mainly into inosine. However, ES cells metabolized adenosine more extensively than ER cells.

Destruction of erythroleukemia, myelocytic leukemia and Burkitt lymphoma cells by photoactivated protoporphyrin.

The effect of protoporphyrin on erythroid, myeloid and lymphoid leukemic cells and their destruction induced by the photoactivated porphyrin was studied. Friend erythroleukemic cells (FL) and myelocytic leukemic cells (ML) accumulated protoporphyrin in a cap or patch-like pattern observed by fluorescence microscopy. Photoactivated protoporphyrin induced the appearance of "holes" on the cell membrane demonstrated by scanning electron microscopy.

Liver abscess as a late complication of percutaneous liver biopsy.

Percutaneous liver biopsy is a widely used diagnostic procedure. Severe complications accompanying its performance with Menghini's needle are rare. In one patient, a liver abscess developed one month following a diagnostic biopsy.

Cytotoxic effect of hemin and protoporphyrin on chronic lymphocytic leukemia lymphocytes.

Hemin and protoporphyrin exerted a cytotoxic effect on lymphocytes from 24 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). The porphyrins inhibited protein and RNA synthesis in a dose dependent pattern. Exposure of leukemic cells to 15 microM hemin for 10 min reduced leucine incorporation to less than 20%, and 78% of the cells were freely permeable to trypan blue.

Two T lymphocyte subpopulations isolated from human peripheral blood following "in vitro" treatment with adenosine.

Incubation of human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) with adenosine resulted in a decrease in the level of E-rosette forming cells (ERFC). Isolated ERFC rerosetted with sheep erythrocytes in the presence of adenosine yielded two T lymphocyte subpopulations: a major one, rosetting or "E(R)" and a minor one, non-rosetting or "E(S)" T cells. Characterization of the two isolated subpopulations revealed that both E(R) and E(S) cells were positive for human T lymphocyte antigen.

Acute plasma cell leukaemia followed by extramedullary plasmacytoma.

A 54-year-old male was hospitalized because of lethargy, weight loss, an upper abdominal mass, hepatosplenomegaly and peripheral blood plasmacytosis of 66%. The diagnosis of acute plasma cell leukaemia was established, and after chemotherapy was initiated, the patient entered complete remission. 6 months later, he developed extramedullary plasmacytoma with involvement of the gastrointestinal tract, right inguinal lymph nodes and right orbit.

Abnormal chromosomal marker (D14 q+) in a patient with alpha heavy chain disease.

A patient with alpha heavy chain disease (alphaHCD), who showed an abnormal chromosomal marker (D14 q+) in 10% of the bone marrow cells, is described. The mesenteric lymph nodes, which showed reactive hyperplasia in the first biopsy, transformed later to a malignant lymphoma and finally to a plasma cell tumour. The small intestine revealed villous atrophy, diminished crypts, and intact surface epithelium.

Lectin-like effect of Echis coloratus Venom on human and mouse lymphocytes.

Echis coloratus venom (ECV) treated human and mouse lymphocytes were examined for synthesizing activities and morphologic alterations. RNA, DNA and protein synthesis were markedly inhibited. Human cells were less affected than mouse lymphocytes.

Enzyme activities in regenerating liver of rats.

the activities of eight enzymes were determined in the regenerating liver of rats after partial hepatectomy. For five enzymes, i.e.

Ultrastructural studies on the lymphocyte subpopulations of disaggregated mouse spleens.

The lymphocyte subpopulations of disaggregated spleens of adult C57Bl/6J mice were examined by transmission and scanning electron microscopy as well as by rosette formation. The results showed that most lymphocyte subpopulations are constituted of cells with relatively smooth surfaces. Rosette formation showed that the proportion of E rosettes, compatible with the presence of T cells, was of 25%, whereas that of erythrocyte antibody complement (EAC) rosettes, indicating B cells, was 9%.

New complex Ph' translocation t (10; 14; 22) in bone marrow cells and in PHA-stimulated peripheral blood cultures in chronic myelocytic leukaemia.

A patient with chronic myelocytic leukaemia (CML) and a new complex Philadelphia chromosome (Ph') translocation, t (10; 14; 22), is described. This three way Ph' translocation not involving chromosome 9 was present in the majority of the bone marrow cells, as well as in a great proportion of metaphases from phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) stimulated peripheral blood cultures. The possibility that the Ph' translocation was present also in lymphocytes is discussed and at this regard the involvement of chromosome 14 is of interest considering the documented non random involvement of chromosome 14 in lymphoid malignancies.

Beneficial effect of chloramphenicol on pyrexia in patients with acute leukemia.

6 patients with acute leukemia are described. All of them suffered from high temperature and malaise, and showed negative urine and blood cultures. High doses of gentamicin, cephalothin and cerebenicillin failed to lower the fever.

Satellitism of Platelets to Monocytes.

Satellitism of platelets to monocytes was observed in 3 patients suffering from polycythaemia vera, a myeloproliferative disorder and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. This phenomenon occurred on cells in the buffy coat obtained from venous blood anticoagulated with heparin. The existence of platelet satellitism was reported to occur mainly to polymorphonuclears, but the present observation, as well as a previous report from our department, indicated that it may also exist to monocytes.

The effect of parathyroid hormone (PTH) and 1,25 dihydroxy vitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3) on RNA and heme synthesis by erythroid precursors.

PTH was shown to stimulate RNA and heme synthesis in 12-13 days embryonic mouse liver erythroid cells, thus expressing an erythropoietin-like effect. Incubation of erythroid precursors with 1,25(OH)2D3 had no effect on heme synthesis, and increased the RNA synthesis only slightly, thus showing no enhancement effect of 1,25(OH)2D3 on the PTH stimulating effect on erythropoiesis.

Quantitative determination of human plasma erythropoietin using embryonic mouse liver erythroblasts.

An in vitro bioassay for the quantitative detection of erythropoietin (Ep) in human plasma is described. The method is based on the increased 3H-uridine incorporation into 12-day embryonic mouse liver erythroblasts due to Ep. It was found that 11 out of 12 anaemic patients showed high plasma Ep level, while 7 out of 8 patients suffering from polycythaemia revealed low Ep values.

A hypodiploid clone and its duplicate in acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Examination of the bone marrow of a 63-year-old man who had acute lymphoblastic leukemia revealed a population of cells with 32 chromosomes and another population with 64 chromosomes, the karyotypical exact duplicate of the first clone. The karyotypic evolution was studied and the findings compared with those described in two similar cases previously reported. It is postulated that severe hypodiploidy is associated with reduced capability of cellular survival, promoting a strong tendency for duplication.